The County Lines

WASHINGTON

Adams County Othello

Janelle Baragas was the first baby born at Othello Community Hospital in 2000. She arrived Jan. 2 at 11:15 a.m. She weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 19 inches long. She is the daughter of Jose and Maria Baragas of Mattawa.

Ferry County Republic

Medical insurance rates increased 24 percent, leaving the county to pay nearly $500 more per employee in 2000. The commissioners will be looking at comparable plans with lower price tags prior to the Feb. 1 policy renewal date.

Grant County Moses Lake

High school students are learning how chemistry and math classes apply to everyday jobs. Teachers have begun taking classes to local businesses to find out what jobs exist and what skills are needed to get them. The first tour was to Pioneer Medical Center’s pharmacy.

Lincoln County Fort Spokane

The Lake Roosevelt Recreation Area saw 1.4 million visitors in 1999, down from 1.5 million in 1998 due to an unseasonably cool summer. A new exhibit at Fort Spokane, on the story of the Indian Boarding School, was popular. The school was controversial because Indian children were taken from their tribes for schooling.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently held a public meeting in Newport to discuss relocating elk from near the Hanford Reservation. The herd at Hanford has grown from eight animals in 1975 to more than 800 today due to lack of hunting. The agency will transplant up to 500 elk to Pend Oreille County.

Spokane County Spokane

The Spokane Housing Authority reported that 79 percent of families in its program are headed by women, and 51 percent of homes are occupied by disabled or elderly people.

Stevens County Colville

The Colville Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity is looking for low-income residents willing to work as partial payment on a new home. A variety of house plans are available. To learn more, contact Lee Stevens, the group’s president, at 684-8211. He says properties in Colville and Kettle Falls are available.

Whitman County Pullman

Media giant Ted Turner will come to Pullman in April to receive the Edward R. Murrow Award and speak at the Murrow School of Communication’s annual symposium. Faculty and a professional advisory board chose Turner, who confirmed last month that he would accept the award and speak at the symposium April 21. Turner founded CNN and owns 9 percent of Time Warner, which recently announced plans to merge with America Online.

IDAHO

Benewah County Fernwood

Bill Tharp, who was police chief of North Las Vegas for 11 years, has decided to run for Benewah County sheriff. Incumbent Joe Blackburn said he won’t run again. Tharp, 64, has 25 years of experience in law enforcement. Tharp, a Democrat, said, “I don’t plan on bringing big city law enforcement to Benewah County. I feel I am sensitive to the wants and needs of local residents.” Tharp lives with his wife, Arlene, at Elkhorn Meadows.

Bonner County Old Town

Tiffnay’s Midway Cafe is now The Mangy Moose. New owners are Lenore Wheaton and her fiance, Gary Warren. Remodeling included moose decor and renaming the restrooms for “Bulls” and “Udders.” “We went a little off the wall, I guess,” Wheaton said. The cafe is open Mondays through Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Breakfast is served anytime.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Elaine Atkins was not only Employee of the Month for Boundary Community Hospital but also won the “Caught Ya Carin”’ award. Atkins is a registered nurse, manager of the Community Health Program and has worked for the hospital for 11 years. She volunteers at the Festival of Trees, Health Fair, Food Bank, Social Committee and Toys for Tots.

Kootenai County Coeur d’Alene

Idaho Independent Bank will award four $5,000 grants and 80 $1,000 grants to graduating high school seniors who plan to attend college in the fall. Applicants are judged on exceptional scholastic achievement, community involvement, qualities of character and leadership, essay responses and financial need. Applications are at the Coeur d’Alene or Hayden Lake branches, and the deadline is March 13.

Latah County Moscow

The Palouse Regional Crisis Line is looking for volunteers. The organization provides 24-hour telephone crisis intervention and support. Eligible volunteers must be 18 or older and have four hours a week to contribute. The next training session begins Jan. 22. For more information, call (509) 332-1505.

Shoshone County Osburn

April Carle and Casey Lapp delivered the first baby of 2000 in Shoshone County. Dawson James was born at 11:22 a.m. Jan. 9. Dawson arrived at least a week early and was ready to be delivered by the time his parents pulled into the hospital parking lot. “Things happened really fast once we got here,” Carle said. “I was only in the hospital three minutes when Dawson was born.”

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

According to the records kept by the U.S. Forest Service in Libby, 1999 was the second driest year of the decade. It was more than 2 inches below the 80-year average for precipitation. Total precipitation for the year was 15 inches. The average annual precipitation total for the area is 17.56 inches. The wettest year of the decade was 1996 with 25.27 inches. The driest was 1994 with 14.95 inches.